A Budget-Friendly Bathroom, Almost Two Years Laters - What Held Up, What Didn't

In preparation for our exciting reno, the bathroom has been largely dismantled and we're down to the studs on one side.  There's no going back!  Before we ripped apart the walls, I quickly snapped a few photos to show how the budget-friendly spruce held up.  Here's what the painted vanity, painted tile, painted hardware, and painted light fixture looked like when everything was freshly done:



And here's that same view, right before demolition commenced (which is why, if you look closely, it's not as clean - seemed like a waste of time to clean in the weeks days before we started to demo):



As a quick reminder, here's what the bathroom looked like when we moved in:



I have to say that I really, really liked the makeover.  Of course, aqua cabinets would have been even better, but I wanted to work with what was there, like the linoleum floors, the mint counters, and the bisque toilet, sink, and shower, because the goal was to spend as little as possible.  When we bought the lakehouse and started tinkering with floor plans, sketching out mini makeovers, and spacing out/budgeting for major renovations, the original plan was to renovate the bathroom last year.  Unfortunately, the delay in selling our townhouse (plus the disappointing sale price), and the resultant delays moving in and tackling the kitchen meant that we just weren't prepared to renovate the bathroom last spring.  Having a spruced up space made delaying the renovation by a year so much easier.  Plus, it helped me figure out what I wanted for the bath renovation in the long run, and I'm grateful for that time to ponder.

So, how did everything hold up? 

The Painted Bathroom Vanity

It held up beautifully!  I am actually very surprised, because the Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations kit required no sanding or priming (click here to read my post about it).  It made me so nervous to skip those steps, but it adhered perfectly and held up to lots of scrubbing and cleaning.  In one teeny tiny area, where we forgot to put a cabinet bumper, the constant opening and slamming shut of the door rubbed off a tiny fleck of paint.  Cabinet bumpers are a must!  I was provided this product by Rustoleum, but would happily purchase it because it was far less labor intensive and messy than sanding, priming and painting (which we did for the kitchen cabinets), but it held up better than primer and paint.  I have had to touch up the kitchen cabinets in a few spots, but I haven't touched up the bathroom cabinetry (I ignored the little fleck because it was so wee).

Then

Now

Would I recommend it?  Yes!  Whole-heartedly - especially to someone who doesn't have ready access to a workshop or garage.  Sanding is so messy, but de-glossing can easily be done indoors without making a mess (as long as there is good ventilation).

Are there drawbacks?  The colour options are limited, but you get it tinted in-store, and I think that an adventurous person working the paint department could custom tint it.  They did that for me for the tile transformation kit because they didn't have the code for the exact white.  So custom colours could be a possibility.  As for other drawbacks, in can be a bit pricey if you're only refinishing a small set of cabinets - but there are kits in different sizes (small and large).  As I mentioned before, the only tricky part with application is the clear coat, which can end up streaky and is difficult to fix so you need to work quickly, in good light, and get an even application the first time.

The Painted Hardware

I am slightly disappointed with the painted hardware, but I think my sanding/prep work is to blame.  Overall, the hardware maintained its lovely matte black finish, but on two knobs the gold peeked through (see photo below).  It was such a bummer!  I didn't prime (the Rust-Oleum High Heat Enamel spray paint I used doesn't require it), so perhaps that would have helped.  I think that the real problem is that I didn't wipe off the residue well enough after sanding.  If I painted hardware again, I'd sand really well and then clean with TSP - that stuff works really well.  Using metal primer would also be a good idea.



Would I recommend it?  Sure!  It's just paint, and if you have hardware with a nice shape but unwelcome finish, it can be a really cost effective way to update it - especially if you're using leftover paint like I did.  If I was really bothered, it would have taken me two second to fix the gold patches.

The Painted Light Fixture

Gah!  That thing bothered me - not the paint makeover, but the fixture itself.  It's just so ugly.  I will admit, though, that it did provide nice light.  I always looked good in this bathroom, sort of airbrushed, which sometimes resulted in a botched makeup application - something I'd realize in horror when I looked in the truck vanity mirror, halfway to town.  I recently busted two bulbs cleaning it, so now I'm even less enamored with it.  I should admit that I am a hair spray fanatic, so everything in the bathroom gets coated in a light dusting of sticky mist.  The matte surface of the paint made it a bit trickier to wipe the spray residue off, but it also disguised it a bit.  I think a glossy finish would be better for something that requires regular cleaning, but there were no problems with the paint - no chips or loss of paint. 



Would I recommend it?  Yes!  De-brassifying the light fixture made me much happier with the bathroom and it helped tide me over until the reno.  It definitely helped me save money because otherwise I might have been tempted to drop $20-50 on a new light fixture, which would have been a total waste.  I'm probably too worried, but because those bulbs do give off some heat I felt more comfortable using the Rust-Oleum High Heat Enamel spray paint (which has a really limited colour and finish selection).

The Painted Tile

Remember how I goofed that up?  If I'd followed the directions during the application, it would have been amazing!  Despite my rookie mistake, the Rust-Oleum Tile Transformation kit still held up - no damage or chipping, and it was easy to clean.  I have seen people cover tile using paint (like Jenny's bathroom makeover), but I can't speak to how well that holds up or cleans.  I can say that the Rustoleum tile paint ends up super smooth, just like ceramic - and not like paint at all.  I'm overly concerned with how well it cleaned, but sometimes I see a bathroom reno or makeover - with decorative crap littering the toilet tank, for example, and sigh, "that can't be easy to clean".  It's the hairspray thing - it clouds my vision.



Would I recommend it?  If you've got hideous tile and are in need of a temporary solution, I can't think of a better way to simply and cost-effectively update it.  I think of these Rust-Oleum products as band-aid solutions, though, and wouldn't recommend doing this and then investing in expensive new cabinets or something - this is for the budget-conscious, because once the grout lines are painted, close up it's evident that it's a faux finish.

After its budget-friendly makeover, the bathroom got a lot of love - especially from Apartment Therapy readers, many of whom deemed further renovation unnecessary.  Some even suggested taking the spruce a bit further and replacing the sink and counter, for a more permanent change.  But there are (were!) many things to dislike about the bathroom, despite my efforts at gussying it up:

The Portal to Nowhere

The shower portal is probably the #1 reason we want to renovate.



I absolutely hate the shower portal, but I'm happy I lived with it for a year and a half, first.  Had we renovated immediately, I would have been tempted by a modern version, because the shower doors do contain the steam better than a shower curtain, which produces a cozier shower experience - until you step out into the frigid bathroom!  Ultimately, what has bothered me the most is how difficult it is to clean!  Okay, yes, I seem to be a bit preoccupied with how easy it is to clean things in the bathroom, but cleaning the glass doors was a nightmare!  Even after vigorous scrubbing, they never looked perfectly clean, plus they got covered in soap scum immediately anyway.  This is the day after I scrubbed them:



See that grime? Oh yeah, and the door didn't properly open and close anymore.  I can't believe I'm showcasing all of this grossness.  I even left my hand lotion and face wash on the vanity for photos - without putting them in pretty bottles.  They're going to revoke my blogger license!!

It is also awkward to clean inside the tub, because the glass panels prevent me from reaching inside easily.  I am SO excited to have a shower curtain again!  It will be easier to clean everything, and it won't produce such a dramatic temperature difference between the shower and the rest of the room.  Plus, I'm excited for new faucets because the existing ones have taken a beating and just look so sad (that's mostly wear - not all soap scum, but it's some soap scum, I'm not going to lie).



The Counter

The laminate counter, although I grew fond of the mint, chipped and began to peel (they were totally popping up in the kitchen when we moved in, but the bathroom was okay at the time).  Covering it with Rust-Oleum's Counter Top Transformations would have helped, but I didn't like any of the colour choices.  If we were living with the bathroom for longer, I would have probably tried it.  The concrete finish everyone is doing looks cute too, but that looks awfully dusty.

 
The Height

This vanity is SO low: only 30" (including the counter)!  I know we were accustomed to the taller, brand new vanity in the townhouse, which made this feel even shorter, but still - it's so short.  It seems like the silliest thing to complain about, but after you wash your hands and accidentally soak the crotch of your pants right before leaving the house - a dozen times - you start to pine for a taller vanity.  I'm very excited for our new walnut vanity, which will be between 36-37" tall - plus we'll have the bonus of double sinks!

So there you have it, some updates on our budget-friendly spruce (what held up and what didn't), and also a little tour of the grossness to better explain why we're renovating.  If you're curious about the makeover process, here are the other posts about making over the space:

Refinishing the Bathroom Cabinets
Refinishing the Bathroom Tile
The Before and After
Styling the Bathroom with Art & Accessories
Summary of Cabinet Refinishing Options

Now, forget you ever saw my grimey shower ;)

Honest Thoughts on Open Shelving in the Kitchen

I've long been fascinated by open shelving, but always preferring to keep my kitchen a little more stream-lined and uncluttered than open shelving usually affords.  In the lakehouse kitchen, though, the upper cabinetry was small and incredibly awkward: the corner shelves couldn't fit two glasses side by side, part of the cabinet to the right of the window was unreachable because the doors and counter got in the way, and the cabinet above the range hood was fake!  I also didn't love the cathedral style door profile or the jumble of sizes.  Open shelving was an inexpensive, easily solution and it definitely increased our storage (although some people dispute this, I know this for a fact because I couldn't fit half of what's on the shelves now in the former cabinets).  While most people have been so positive about the makeover, there have been those who have been...insensitive (I so badly want to use a different word).  These folks haven't popped up here, but some websites where the kitchen has been featured have yielded some weirdly personal criticisms.  Apparently either I don't cook, or I'm not a good cook, or else I'm totally slovenly and live in a grime-filled home.  Never mind that apparently I'm hoarding the world's Pyrex so a person can't even find a set of mixing bowls.  People have also had weirdly specific concerns, like how I should have a single sink and not two (I guess what I prefer is irrelevant).  Le Sigh.  Some questions are legitimate and non-accusatory ("is it easy to keep open shelves clean?" is a biggie), so I'm going to tackle them today.  It's been about six months since we finished the kitchen update, and I'm feeling chatty about it. 

Would I Recommend Open Shelving?  Would I Choose it Again?

My Mom is currently pondering a kitchen makeover (torn between a full reno or spit + polish) and recently she asked for my honest thoughts on open shelving.  Would I do it again?  Would I recommend them to others?  Would I recommend them to her?

Yes, definitely.  Maybe.  No.



I still love our open shelves.  I love the storage we gained and how easy it is to grab something or put it away.  I know that sounds silly (how hard is it to open a door?), but I was totally been clocked in the head - more than once - by an open cupboard door when Hubby and I were both bustling around in the townhouse kitchen.  Open shelves are safer when there are two cooks in a relatively petite kitchen.  I enjoy sitting at the counter and admiring my Pyrex and pretty Iittala glassware while I crunch my cereal.  I've never been one for clutter and I think my aesthetic is pretty spartan (sometimes a little too spartan?), but this is the one area where I've got a lot of pretty stuff to look at. 



BUT!  I'd never replace my Mom's perfectly fitted, ceiling-height cabinetry with open shelves.  Her melamine door fronts have bubbled up in the last twenty years and while the style she chose still looks current, they look a bit shabby (which is such a shame).  For her, I'd suggest new cabinet fronts.  For someone like me, who couldn't make use of the existing upper cabinetry (and that's highly subjective), open shelving was perfect: cheap, easy, and it's fun for the interim.  The kitchen feels happy and casual.  When we do our real-deal reno, though, I'd like cabinets again, although I'd probably still go with a few shelves (maybe to the right of the window, for Pyrex?).  My desire for having cabinetry again is partly because the kitchen is so open to the house, so I'm dreaming of a stream-lined kitchen that doesn't look "kitcheny".  However, I'm seriously thinking about keeping a more stylish version of our DIY open pantry for the reno.  I've ended up really enjoying those canisters.

They are so easy to grab and filling them is deliciously satisfying.  I enjoy the look of the uniform shelves and jars with the differently textured contents.  Is that weird?  People have wondered where I keep food with open shelves.  The pantry holds twelve jars - I usually even have empty ones!  Smaller ingredients (baking soda, canned goods, crackers, etc.) are stored in the lower cabinets.  I often decant into smaller mason jars and then things take up less room so I can cram more in.  This winter we're also going to set up some shelves in the basement for our apocalypse over flow of canned goods.



For anyone with dismal cabinets like mine were, I'd definitely give my vote for shelves.  For someone with salvageable cabinetry, I might suggest a mix of open shelves and cabinets, like Mandi Johnson's kitchen makeover (featured on A Beautiful Mess).  I'm actually totally smitten with her makeover and have pinned it a zillion times to every board:

A Beautiful Mess

Is Open Shelving a Dusty, Greasy Mess?

Before I had open shelving, I read a few reviews of open shelving and people who had them (like Sherry and John from YHL) swore they didn't get really messy.  I didn't believe them, because my bookshelves get plenty dusty.  I figured kitchen grime would be ten times grimier than bookshelves.  I can now join the ranks of people who swear that open shelving isn't a pain to keep clean!  I didn't believe them, but now I do.

First, a little more information: we don't have a range hood so when we cook, we sometimes pop open the kitchen window and sometimes even the half bath window, for a nice cross breeze.  I air the house out routinely, anyway (even in the winter - doggie smells!), so this doesn't seem weird to me.  I've mentioned before that we've never had a working range hood, so we're used to it.  We cook about three times a week, often relying on our slow cooker or cooking in big batches.  This way, we coast on leftovers and have more time for not-cooking.  More of our recipes require browning meat, sauteing onions, etc.  Sometimes, though, we'll toss a meatloaf in the oven or use our grill pan for grilled chicken, so we're not cooking with oil every time.  Maybe if we cooked every single day and used oil for cooking every single time, we might have more of a mess on our hands?  I'm not sure, but the dust on the shelves has been minimal - far less than what my bookshelves in the office accumulate, but with a slightly different texture.  Not sticky, really, but not as fluffy as bookshelf dust (so no dust bunnies skittering around, if that makes sense, the dust stays put). 



Funny story: when we moved into the townhouse, the former owners - who had lived there for two years - had turned the kitchen into a horribly, greasy mess.  In fact, all of the walls - from the kitchen to the living room right up to the front door - were greasy and sticky.  It was terrible to get it clean in preparation for paint.  The stove (and range hood) was so horrifying that I actually hired a professional cleaner to tackle it because it was seriously a job for a pro.  She bustled around a bit but after she saw the oven - I kid you not - she "left for more oven cleaner" and literally never returned.  I called and called and called and eventually she wearily answered and offered to clean something else, but not the stove.  It was THAT gross.   After fours years of us living there, the kitchen wasn't greasy at all.  So maybe it's cooking styles?  Cooking frequency?  Maybe the open window is pure magic?

Full disclosure:  I'm fairly fastidious.  I'm not saying this in a smug, humble-brag way.  It's actually kind of a problem in my life and it makes it difficult for me to be productive in a meaningful way (or really relax), because I'm always tidying, scrubbing, washing.  I have nervous energy, I think.  But it's not like I ever need to wash the walls, so I think that we just don't produce as much of a mess as others (like the former townhouse owners).  There's no shame in that, I think the biggest messes produce the best meals.  I don't mean to imply that people who get grease everywhere don't cook as well, I'm just saying that some people seem to produce more grime when they cook, and others don't.

To make this post a bit more objective, I did a little experiment.  About a month ago, I took everything off of the shelves for the first time since we completed the kitchen.  I washed/wiped things if necessary, re-assessed and re-organized (and this was "down time" for me, so you can see that I have issues).  I took a good long look at the shelves.  There was a bit of dust on the top shelf (as in, I could see a faint outline of the shapes when I removed items) but it wasn't horrific and wasn't greasy.  The second and first shelves had a little less dust but the dust was less fluffy (a bit greasy).  The first two shelves are constantly in use and the contents are run through the dishwasher a lot.  When a pile or stack is emptied, I'll wipe the shelf down quickly with a dishrag so the minimal amount of dust wasn't surprising.  I was surprised, however, with how little dust had settled on the top shelf.  It took me a few hours to rearrange and clean everything but a simple wipe-down would have taken an hour - even less if Hubby would have been around to hand stuff to.  After that big clean, I left it for about a month and resisted the urge to do any wiping or dusting (I suffer for my blog).  Yesterday I wiped down the first level of shelves with a paper towel to objectively present the evidence.  This is the amount of dust/grease that settled on one shelf (on the left), after four weeks:

And the other shelf, the one to the right of the stove:

I couldn't see it on the shelf until I wiped it up with the paper towel.  In real life I often use a cloth I've fashioned from cut up clothes (often they've got patterns, etc), so I used a fresh piece of paper towel so you could clearly see the dust.  By the way, I can't believe I just shared my grime on the internet, but I figured it was the only way to quantitatively demonstrate the amount of dust on the shelves.  And there's more, so if the above photos grossed you out, scroll down a bit - quickly!  

Although I purposefully didn't touch the shelves for a month, prior to my study I've found the swiffer duster to be useful.  It's great for getting in between the dry goods canisters and plates and glasses, plus I can easily reach the top shelf with it.  Yesterday I also dusted the pantry shelves and the upper two shelves and this is the amount of dust (again, after a month):

That's not so bad!  The bookcase in my office had way more dust and dirt on it when I cleaned it for the photos for my DIY magazine files.  I think that because there's more activity in our kitchen, things being removed/cleaned/replaced, that the dust doesn't settle as much?  Using a glossier paint finish, like people typically choose for trim and baseboards, really makes it a snap to wipe down or dust.  I wouldn't choose a matte finish for open shelves.  

There is one spot that is super dusty, though: the bottom shelf of the pantry.  Now that shelf gets really dusty - just an insane amount of dust gets in there, likely because it's so low to the ground and near the front door.  That's where the microwave was going to go but after living without one for awhile we realized we don't need it.  A cooler, on the other hand, is essential for getting food home on our hour long drive and when I got my hands on a vintage blue cooler that belonged to my great-aunt (who passed away), it seemed like the perfect spot.  I think about her every time I see it, which is nice. 

Do I Get Tired of Looking at My Open Shelving?

I've spent a good 10-15 years collecting vintage glassware, Pyrex and other goodies and it's nice to have them out in the open, finally fully appreciated.  I'm not bored yet (although reorganizing was fun and I might do it again in another six months).  I know that the kitchen looks like it has an insane amount of turquoise, and like the shelves, the colour is polarizing.  In person, everyone who sees it thinks it's great, but online there are people who think it's fabulous and a few who think it's way too much.  I think pictures are misleading (I blame my skills and my camera.  I almost bought a DSLR for Black Friday but I think there might be better sales in January and February, so I'll step up my photo game soon, I promise).  The kitchen definitely has a hefty dose of colour in real life, but it's not so dramatic because the kitchen is more open and airy than it seems - it's also larger than it appears.  The white to aqua ratio is different.  As well, in real life there's nice variation in the colours, from minty greens to blues.  The sheen and pattern varies - plus the clear glassware is more noticeable, lending a bit more visual interest.  Really, the content of the shelves seems more muted and nuanced in real life - not so bright and not so repetitive.  I don't love the kitchen in photos, but when I'm in it, it looks so beautiful and I can't help but smile.  It's a bold look, to be sure, even in that elusive third dimension.

I did purposefully opt for a stream-lined palette because I think it helps the shelves from looking too cluttered.  If there was a jumble of colour with that many shelves, I think it would drive me nuts.  There is a lot of bakeware and glassware crammed on these shelves - plus lots of sizes of plates and bowls.  Having everything white, clear glass, or some shade of turquoise/blue, soothes me.  Also, it's just my cup of tea.  My super ordered brain likes to see this kind of uniformity.  And this kitchen was meant to be personal and fun.  One day I'll have a serious kitchen (right now I'm loving this one), and I'll look back on these days and say, "hey, remember when we were young and crazy and had a totally insane turquoise kitchen?"  For someone tackling a more permanent spruce, I might suggest a more neutral colour like Emily Henderson's kitchen, which can easily be made more wild, or more subdued and elegant, with accessories and art.

Emily Henderson

But I wanted to go bright - it might be a once in a lifetime opportunity! 

Better Homes & Gardens

I know that it's visually pleasing to mix some orange or red with aqua so that it's not so AQUAAQUAAQUA, but I just love the whites and blues and grey together.  The heart wants what the heart wants (but I added some seasonal red for you!).  You'll notice that I did move my photo turned into an oil painting to the kitchen (I'm testing it out and weighing my options), so between that and the enamel paintings from Hungary above the stove, the eye can rest a little before it's assaulted by more turquoise ;)

Have I Made Peace with the Brackets?

Nope, I still don't love the brackets.  If you recall, Hubby was adamant that we get industrial-strength brackets and wood shelves.  I wanted thicker shelves, but these were pre-fab and easy, plus the thickness matches that of the open pantry, so maybe I like the thickness after all.  I still pine for thick, floating shelves.   But in the kitchen they would look weird butted up against the pantry, and they'd compete with the gloriously thick wood counters Hubby and his Dad made.  Still, look how pretty:

A Beautiful Mess

BUT, the Pyrex has not come crashing down, so maybe I'll grow to love the monster brackets.  The wood shelves are similarly holding strong (knock on wood), with no signs or warping or buckling.  Maybe with our forever kitchen, if I do a bit of open shelving I'll finally get the floating shelves I want.  It's Hubby's kitchen too and I catch him checking the brackets from time to time, pleased with their performance.

I think that's all I have to say about open shelving.  I've been jotting down some thoughts on the entire kitchen makeover: what we love, what we regret, what we'd do differently, and what I've realized about what I need/want from a kitchen.  I'll share those thoughts at some point, but I want to live with some things (like the wood counters and painted cabinetry) so I can get a better sense of how they wear.  In the meantime, feel free to ask me questions about any aspect of the kitchen update. 

And please, weigh in on open shelving - especially if you have it!  For people considering it, it's always nice to hear different opinions.  I'm sure that location, weather, heating systems, pets, kids, cooking styles, ventilation, etc., all impact how dusty these bad boys get, so my experience is very limited.  When the kitchen was featured on Apartment Therapy it was the people without open shelving who seemed to know so much about it getting messy, but many people with open shelving confirmed that it's really not that big a deal to keep clean.  The debate rages on but, in a moment of frustration (someone accused us of not eating spaghetti!), I came up with this theory:

Ignore the grammatical errors.  I was incensed.  But I tend to make grammatical errors regardless. 

Read more »

Honest Thoughts on the Leather Sofa + Faux Fur Throws

I read a lot of blogs and find myself mesmerized and inspired by so many great ideas, plus I like to think that I'm spending my money more wisely with the benefit of open and honest product reviews.  But every now and then I find myself giving a project or product shill the side eye, and find myself cynically wondering if it was scrapped as soon as the blogger hit "publish".  I decided it might be fun to start providing a little follow-up on my own projects, product reviews and posts.  Don't worry: I won't re-hash the minutiae of every post, but I'll definitely re-visit some biggies, especially things I still really, really, love or things that turned out to be a huge disappointment.  I'll let you know how things have withstood the test of time.  Awhile ago I shared my thoughts on our townhouse bathroom reno and I really enjoyed that look back (ahhh, the magic of hindsight).  If there's something you've been curious about and want me to honestly re-assess, just let me know in the comments, on Instagram (it's so much easier to leave comments there), or shoot me an email (dans.le.townhouse@gmail.com). 

Today I want to re-visit two things: a blog freebie I reviewed a year ago, and our second-hand leather sofa.  I'm normally pretty scrupulous when it comes to reviewing items on the blog.  Items have to be super cool or something already on my "to buy" list.  You might have ascertained that my aesthetic is fairly spartan, so the last thing I want is lots of useless clutter.  Last December I was contacted to review two Guillaume faux fur throws, for sale on The Shopping Channel.  Normally faux fur and polyester aren't my bag, but I was motivated to accept the product by two colliding events: we were broke from carrying two mortgages (and I was craving something shiny and new, because we'd axed luxuries - and some staples - from our budget).  Plus, we were on the verge on facing a harsh Northwestern Ontario winter and I knew that blankets - a copious amount of blankets - would help keep me warm.  Oh yeah, and the designer is Canadian-born!

Somewhat surprisingly, the faux lynx blanket became a favorite and, a year later, it held it's place of honor on our sofa.  (The leopard print, not really my jam, ended up in the truck for emergencies when we need to keep warm).  While Szuka outgrew her chew-all-the-things phase, she does come over to us when we're vegging on the sofa and drop a drool-covered ball in our laps or try to lick crumbs off the blanket.  I'm still very much a fan of the machine wash and tumble dry.  When I was offered another Guillaume faux fur throw this year, in a slightly larger size, I happily accepted.  When the new one came, I realized just how much I'd worn out the old one.  The new one feels so silky and smooth, while the old feels a bit rougher and matted.  I wash it weekly, sometimes twice a week.  It helps my allergies to keep it laundered, but I think it probably isn't intended to be washed quite so much. 

The throws will be a Shopping Channel Showstopper for under $65, which is apparently half the price of similar throws from well-known home decor stores.  The Ivory Snow Lynx is still my favorite pattern (though I did want to try the navy minx or grey leopard, but no such luck!). 

As I was snapping photos of the new throw, I realized our cream leather sofa was embarrassingly dusty (the cream hides dust so well!), so I gave it a wipe down with leather cleaner.  I used to work at Danier Leather and loved their leather conditioner (the leather rejuvenate lotion) - it smells great and does a good job of moisturizing and cleaning leather.  I preferred it to the actual cleaners Danier sells.  We had this gross sales pitch when I worked there about leather goods being like human skin: they need to be cleaned and moisturized to stay supple.  Blech.  But I want my leather goods to last forever, so I faithfully use the lotion on my purses, leather jacket - even our sofa.  I recently ran out so I figured now is a good time to use up the leather furniture cleaner (just on the sofa, not my bags!) that we received for free when we bought our doomed sofa from The Brick.  It doesn't smell as good, but it does the job: I apply a small amount to a cloth and then wipe down the surface.  I follow up with a second clean cloth to remove any excess and let it dry before replacing the pillows and throw.  (Always spot test any new cleaners on a hidden area to ensure that no colour is buffed off).  I was aghast to see how much dirt Szuka had rubbed onto the bottom - lots of little pale muddy splotches!  I think I should be cleaning it more often, because I recently learned that pet saliva is acidic and it can harm leather finish.

I'm still really pleased with our second-hand score.  It's kept it's shape really well.  The seat cushions look a smidge flatter and I really wish they weren't fixed so I could rotate/flip them. but otherwise it still looks sharp.  While the cream leather has a few tiny marks here and there, it has held up SO well.  I was worried that the light leather would get trashed, especially during the move, but we wrapped it up and it was fine.  Leather is a little cool to the touch in the winter, but that's really nice in the summer (although sweaty skin can stick to it).  Ultimately, we really do love a leather sofa for how easy it is to keep clean and how well it wears.  Broken in leather looks much better than threadbare upholstery!  The mid-century sectional waiting in the wings has been put on the back burner...for now.  I struggle between really wanting to cough up the cash and reupholster that sectional, but then it seems a shame to jettison a perfectly good leather sofa.  More importantly, right now there are so many things we should put our money toward first (closet doors in the bedroom would be a start...), so I think we'll put off that decision for a bit.   

Next time I'm addressing the open shelves in the kitchen.  Do they get dusty?  Are they functional?  Do I still like them?  Such a cliffhanger!  Don't forget: if there's something you want to scoop on - a DIY you thought was suspect, or a product you doubt made the cut, let me know.   If this new series bores you to tears (sorry!), I'll be titling the posts "Honest Thougths on..." so you can easily skip them (I won't know). 

Read more »

Townhouse Bathroom Reno Do-Over - Candid Thoughts on a Bathroom Reno

I've really enjoyed being able to share the lakehouse transformation with you since Day One - actually, since before Day One, when this place was still just a twinkle in our eyes.  Part of my excitement stems from missed opportunities in the townhouse.  I knew next to nothing about DIY/design blogs when we were elbows deep in stinky carpet and splattered paint.  It wasn't until after the dust had settled on our more major renovations that I actually had the time to read blogs and thought, "oh crap, these would have been useful to read before we started renovations," followed by, "oh hey, blogging looks like fuuuuuun!"  Although I've since shared a bevy of projects, I rarely talked about the townhouse bathroom renovation (except for this post on installing linoleum, our simple DIY medicine cabinet door, and adding some yellow accents - which I did).  With another bathroom reno on the horizon, I've been thinking a lot about what we liked about the townhouse bathroom reno, what we hated about it, and things we learned.  So here's a timely blast from the past: a long over-due peek into the renovation process, with a list of pros and cons for everything from our bathtub choice and tile surround to our marble counters - all brought to you by the magic of hindsight.

Here's what the townhouse main bathroom looked like when we moved out of the townhouse:  

It was quite horrifying when we first toured the property.  The beige-ish pink fixtures were old and perma-dirty, the toilet didn't work, the cabinetry reeked (I shudder to think of what).  We knew right away that we would renovate it before we even moved in.  It was kind of a shame that it was in such poor condition, because I could have rocked that pink.  Maybe.

Okay, maybe not.

Having never tackled a bathroom reno before, Handy Hubby and I hired out the replacement of the bathtub and tile surround.  We knew everything else would be manageable, but I pictured the two of us sending a bathtub crashing down the stairs.  We didn't know if we'd recognize water damage, if there was any.  We also didn't trust that we could tell if the subfloor was strong enough to hold the extra weight of our deep soaker tub.  I've since seen some truly heinous DIY tub installs around blogland, so we've always been happy with the decision to hire that part out.  Basically we bought the tub, tile and installation as a package deal from an Ottawa-based bathroom and kitchen company and they contracted out the actual work.  We liked the team who did the work, but we had issues with the sales team who made mistakes, blamed me, charged me, and then fell off the face of the earth when I complained.

We overhauled the rest of the bathroom ourselves and made sure we removed the vanity and toilet before the tub was due for demolition, just to make things a little easier.  We were lucky because family was visiting and helping with the renos (a "renocation," as my Dad calls it), so we were able to shower at their hotel each night, but we slept at the empty house with nothing but an air mattress and many bags of Doritos.

I found some photos (from almost five years ago!!) of the tub installation process. 

The speed with which they worked definitely gave us totally unreasonable expectations about how fast our own tiling would go in the kitchen, when we replaced the counter and backsplash the following spring.

The Bathtub + Tile Surround:

PROS:

Ultimately we were really happy with hiring out some of the work.  The tub install was done well - and very quickly (just a few days).  The salesperson upsold us on a deep, super comfy, soaker tub and it was such a fabulous purchase.  Water was included in condo fees in the townhouse and now that we're on a well and conserving water, I'll always think fondly about those water-wasting days and long, relaxing soaks.  The removable shower head was on my must-have list and I definitely want one of those again because I shower at night and wash my hair in the morning (otherwise it's toque-flat, no matter the season).  We also bathe Szuka in the tub and it's handy for that as well.

As an added bonus, the woman on the reno team was once married to a pretty famous Canadian actor!  Like a jerk, I Googled him immediately and, sure enough, saw photos of them on red carpets. 

CONS:

I picked the least imaginative tile for the tub surround.  I don't know what I was thinking.  The tub was a "package deal" and this tile came with it.  I had the option to swap out something else and pay the difference but it was overwhelming.  We were in Ottawa, flipping through a million tile samples but running out of time before we had to drive back to Kingston and then on to Thunder Bay.  We were making snap decisions and I just opted for the white tile in the package.  I regretted not choosing a classic white subway tile (which I ultimately chose for the townhouse kitchen).  I asked them to install it like subway tile but the salesperson scoffed at my "ridiculous idea".  I still think it would have looked cute.  While we lived in the townhouse,  I had to remind myself daily: "it's new, it's clean, it's better" because I just hated the tile so much - that's why this is the first time you're actually seeing it!  This time around I'm considering my tiling options more thoroughly.  Maybe a little too thoroughly.




Aggravatingly, there was nowhere to put shampoo or soap - I wish we'd been upsold on some kind of cubby or tiled nook because this particular tub had no ledge!  We stuck on a suction soap dispenser, which I glared at every morning and night for four years.  A tiled cubby like this is now high on my list of must-haves.

After the tub was done, my poor Papa volunteered to scrape away the old linoleum flooring.  We had started before the crew showed up but it was super sticky so we waited until they left to resume.  Then Hubby installed the vinyl flooring, which we talked about in this old post.

Vinyl Flooring:

PROS:

Vinyl flooring gets a really bad rap for looking and feeling cheap.  Certainly there are a lot of cheap and ugly options out there, but I loved our vinyl flooring.  It took me awhile to find it (it's from Home Depot) but literally everyone who visited complimented it - some people got down on their hands and knees for a feel because they didn't believe it was vinyl.  (Luckily, it was easy to keep clean!)  It was a snap to install and incredibly affordable, plus it wasn't slippery with wet feet.  After four years it looked brand new.

CONS: 

For resale, "vinyl flooring" isn't the sexist thing to add to an MLS write-up but no potential buyer ever complained once they saw how nice it looked.  But still, "ceramic tile" or "stone tile" has more caché. Vinyl also precludes in-floor heating, but that wasn't something we considered anyway.

For the vanity we chose a now-discontinued model from Home Depot.  It was a nightmare ordering it and we had multiple delays as we struggled to get the correct pieces.  We eventually gave up and just kept what we received.  This vanity was a great choice because the middle section fit perfectly in the half bathroom and for the main bathroom it was a perfect size when flanked by two sets of drawers.  I liked that both townhouse bathrooms on the second story, even though they were different sizes, had the same vanity (and counter, sink, fixtures, toilet, and flooring) for a cohesive look.

We topped both vanities with a marble counter and under mount sink offered with the modular cabinetry, which was pretty inexpensive.  The faucet was from Canadian Tire.  The vanity came with brushed hardware but for the tub install we'd picked chrome.  We chose chrome for the sink faucet but I'm not one for mixing metals, so this is another example of why I should have paid more attention to the finishes.

Vanity + Marble Counter

PROS:

The modular aspect of the vanity was great and so was the value.  The ease of everything together (vanity, hardware, sink, and counter) was great for first-time renovators, like us.  The white finish was a classic look, as was the shake-style door - although I grew tired of it immediately.  I tried to pick traditional/modern updates to suit the house and not turn off any future homeowners.  I would have chosen more modern things for myself, but knew that potential buyers may not have the same taste.

The marble counter felt fancy at first, even though I disliked the profile of the counter.  It was a selling point for resale and helped brighten the small, window-less bathroom.  It was certainly the star of the bathroom and added a small touch of luxury to any otherwise budget-friendly home.  I also liked not having any tile around the vanity because I thought it was a really clean, modern look.  I'd consider something similar again.

CONS:

The melamine cabinetry was, sadly, not the best quality and was starting to show wear after only a few years.  I'd never go with cheap melamine for a humid area again.  This vanity had the option of adding the toe-kick or leaving it off for a leggy look.  I liked that it looked kind of like a re-purposed dresser - until the first time I had to lie on my tummy and shimmy my arm and a rag under the vanity to clean.  Now I'd like a floating one because it combines my two loves: a more modern look, plus I can easily run a mop (or a Roomba) under there with minimal effort.

The marble was also nightmare to keep clean.  In the beginning I thought it was the best thing ever and decided every surface I ever own should be marble from that point on, but I quickly learned that marble was not my friend.  It stained easily - even from the water - and needed lots of care and cleaning.  There was a huge variety in the quality of marble cleaners, and I spent way too much time researching cleaning and then putting my research to good use.  It's a wonder I got any work done on my dissertation.  The counter discoloured when I even looked at it wrong.  I absolutely hate marble now; although I love the look I'd never choose it for any surface that sees a lot of use.  An end table? Sure. A kitchen counter? Nope, not for me.



Shower Rod + Curtain

PROS:

I loved our Marimekko shower curtain, which wasn't cheap but looked brand new four years later - and cleaned up in the washing machine so easily.  I'm always relieved when paying a bit more for something actually means getting better quality.

CONS:

I just never loved the look of the shower rod so low.  I really like the ceiling-height ones I've seen, with extra-long shower curtains, but I had no clue they existed at the time.  I really miss a shower curtain (cleaning the glass on our portal is no fun) and I'd like to go back to this option instead of the glass encased shower I thought I'd prefer.  Living with the portal helped me realize this, so I'm really happy we didn't decide to renovate right away.  This time around, though, let's get that curtain up high!



Towel Bar:

PROS:

You might lose respect for me if you knew how long I searched for a double towel bar.  It's the best and when we replaced the towel bar in the lakehouse, I opted for a more modern version of the double.  It's perfect for drying two towels at once in a small space.  Because our lakehouse bathroom is a smidge larger I'd really love a towel warmer because it will feel so indulgent to be ensconced in a toasty towel.  

I definitely learned a lot and I hope that the next bathroom we overhaul will be perfect.  I'm going to be really honest and admit that I'm petrified of making mistakes again - of spending a whack of money and still not being happy.  In the townhouse we always knew we'd be moving soon-ish and I knew that we'd recoup the cost of the reno (we did), but we've hunkered down in the lakehouse for an indefinite amount of time.  Things need to be perfect.

At least now I know that:

• It's smart to hire out if doing the job seems too daunting
• Marble is not my friend
• A ceiling height shower curtain and removable shower head are my must-haves
• A vanity on legs makes cleaning a chore
• Sometimes the salesperson is right (miss you, soaker tub)
• Sometimes the salesperson is negligent (where does the soap go, huh?)
• When in doubt, choose white subway tile

Most importantly:

• Carelessly picking things = a room I don't love
• Picking things I think other people will like = a room I don't love
• A room with hardly any aqua = a room I don't love

Do you have any bathroom renovation hits or misses of your own? I'd love to hear your own experiences (please feel free to include a link in the comments if you have a blog post you'd like to share).

Read more »